3ds Max 2012 Bible - Kelly L. Murdock [21]
Note
If all the details of every interface command were covered in this chapter, it would be an awfully long chapter. So for those commands that are covered in more detail elsewhere, I include a cross-reference to the chapter where you can find their coverage. •
The entire interface can be divided into six easy elements. Each of these interface elements, in turn, has groupings of sub-elements. The six main interface elements are listed here and shown separated in Figure 1.1:
• Title Bar and Menus: This is the default source for most commands, but also one of the most time-consuming interface methods. The title bar and menus are found along the top edge of the Max window.
• Toolbars: Max includes several toolbars of icon buttons that provide single-click access to features. These toolbars can float independently or can be docked to an interface edge. The main toolbar is the only toolbar that is visible by default.
• Modeling Ribbon: Configurable tabs and panels provide quick access to modeling features, including the Graphite Modeling Tools.
• Viewports: Four separate views into the scene show the Top, Front, Left, and Perspective viewpoints.
FIGURE 1.1
Max includes six main interface elements.
• Command Panel: The major control panel located to the right of the four viewports, it has six tabbed icons at its top that you can click to open the various panels. Each panel includes rollouts containing parameters and settings. These rollouts change, depending on the object and tab that is selected.
• Lower Interface Bar: Along the bottom edge of the interface window is a collection of miscellaneous controls.
In addition to these default elements are several additional interface elements that aren't initially visible when Max is first loaded. These additional interface elements include the following:
• Floating toolbars: Several additional toolbars are available as floating toolbars. You access them by choosing Customize⇒Show UI⇒Show Floating Toolbars or by selecting them from the toolbar's right-click pop-up menu.
• Quadmenus: Right-clicking the active viewport reveals a pop-up menu with up to four panes, referred to as a quadmenu. Quadmenus offer context-sensitive commands based on the object or location being clicked and provide one of the quickest ways to access commands.
• Caddy Settings: When modeling, you can open Caddy Settings. These sets of controls float above the current selection and offer several settings that are immediately updated in the viewport.
• Dialog boxes and editors: Some commands open a separate window of controls. These dialog boxes may contain their own menus, toolbars, and interface elements. A good example of this interface element type is the Rendered Frame Window, which has enough controls to keep you busy for a while.
Using the Menus
The pull-down menus at the top of the Max interface include most of the features available in Max and are a great place for beginners to start. Several of the menu commands have corresponding toolbar buttons and keyboard shortcuts. To execute a menu command, you can choose it from the menu with the mouse cursor, click its corresponding toolbar button if it has one, or press its keyboard shortcut. You also can select menu commands by pressing the Alt key and using the keyboard arrows. After you select a menu command, press the Enter key to execute it.
The main menu includes the following options: Application Button, Edit, Tools, Group, Views, Create, Modifiers, Animation, Graph Editors, Rendering, Customize, MAXScript, and Help. If you're using 3ds Max 2010 Design, then you'll find one additional menu item: Lighting Analysis. Unlike some other programs, these menu options do not disappear if not needed. The list is set, and they are always there when you need them.
The File menu has been replaced with a button that displays the Max logo. This is called the